BizIndie takes a cerebral tour of filmmaker Damien Sage, and his Psychedelic feature film, "Psychotropica." 

 

 

 

 

Psychotropica Synopsis

By Sergio Mauroforte

 

 

Experience the journey of a confused and somewhat deranged young man; known only as "The Patient" as he is repeatedly forced to relive painful nightmares, dreams, and memories. The Patient's "treatment" is overseen by a mysterious and sadistic doctor who is not only tormenting the young man with the contents of his own mind, but who is also testing a mind expanding drug on him called "Psychotropica". As the Patient continues to dive deeper and deeper into the wilds of his subconscious mindscape he comes to realize many horrible truths about his past, present and future.

 

BizIndie: Lets jump right in and talk about funding. What type of budget were you guys working with? How did you fund the project? 

 

Damien Sage: We often like to say on our little projects, even this one, that "No money was harmed during the making of this flm."

 

"Psychotropica" was made, at least partially, over the course of 4 years.  About 40% was filmed between 2003-2005 and the bulk of the film was shot from July 08- July 09. In all that time I MAYBE spent One Thousand Dollars on the project, but that's a BIG maybe. It was all out-of-pocket AND it was all for supplies and things I would have purchased regardless, so thats why we say "No money was harmed..."

 

BI: Any word of advice on raising funds?

 

D.S.: Mine would be: "Don't." Or rather, don't try and go through anyone in the "business" official. One reason (of man) we had such a long gap in production on Psychotropica was the fact that we tried to get another project off the ground. I went through every official channel, company, and producer I could with the script we were working with. In the end, when it came down to it, we managed to get several name stars attached, including one Academy Award winner.  All of the actors loved the script, and they weren't being offered much money. This project was to only be done for $375,000. At this point I had found a filmmaker/producer who was going to fund the project, based on the script and the attached stars. Everything was set to go, then the producer backed out "due to a loss at Cannes." It was never officially said, but I believe that the true reason he backed out was because the lead character of this project was a non-stereotypical homosexual.

 

In any case, when you go through official channels to get your film funded you're going to face a lot of challenges. Your script will be heavily scrutinized; First, for it's formatting. If you don't have that baby polished to a 'T' in it's style and format, it won't even be looked at. Second: For "Name" actors you can get attached to it. Third: For it's content. Most producers don't care too much about script content, aside from how "mass appealable it is." So, if you have a script that's out of the norm in any way, you're gonna have a hard time with it.

 

So, back to my advice. Don't go through official channels, unless you want a lot of hassle and to essentially have to change your entire project. Or, unless you just know some rich producer who'll give you some money. Try and raise the money yourself, do the film on your own terms, with people who will work just for the experience and because they love film.

 

 

BI: What inspired the story? Did you write it?

 

D.S.: Desperation inspired the story. After the "failure" of the [other] project we tried to get off the ground, we were just sort of lost and angry and aching to do something. I decided to take the basic concept  of a film I'd already shot some scenes for, years before, called "The Eclipse." The central plot of that film was driven by a warped "love triangle" between a mentally unstable assassin, his step brother, and his sister. The original scenes we had done were shot during my extreme "experimental" phase, using lots of color, styles, and techniques. The early fans I had gained had been asking if I would return to that style for sometime, after moving away from it for a bit, so I decided to do the whole new film as some whacked out tour-de-force of audio/visual overdrive. This film became "Psychotropica." Really at it's heart "Psychotropica" is an homage to the experimental days of the 70's/80's (in particular Italian and European cinema), and also a little Anime. Each scene has a specific look and style, dedicated to, or referencing my favorite directors; specifically Dario Argento, Sergio Leone, Sam Peckinpah, Ken Russell, David Lynch and Mike Hodges, just to name a few...

 

The overall goal of Psychotropica was really just not to do something average. I didn't want my first film to be some "shot in the backwoods horror flick where people squirt blood at one another from off camera." Not that I have anything at all against that sort of film, in fact I love them. After my experience with the "business types" I just didn't want that to be our first film out of the gate. In the end we just wanted to make a film that, love it or hate it, you wouldn't forget. Psychotropica is an exercise in excess; killer children, incest, copious amounts of violence, nudity galore, an extended "Evil Dead" homage, and loads and loads of intense visual stylistics, [all, of course] backed by a pulse pounding score. We wanted to be "un-pretentiously ambitious." That's really it. That is why Psychotropica is the film it is.

 

Oh, and yes, I wrote the film under pseudonym, Sergio Mauroforte.

 

 

 

 

 

BI: Technically speaking, how was "Psychotropica" shot? 

 

D.S.: The film was not shot on HD. I have a Panasonic DVX 100a. It shoots on Mini DV cassettes. I wanted the film to have a purposefully "low-fi" look, in reference to the look of "Euro-Trash" films made in the 70's and 80's. So, in addition to just shooting on normal Mini DV, I also loaded the movie with various "degrading" filters and we even rotoscoped the film to give it an odd "Ralph Bakshi" kind of feel.

 

BI: There are obviously a lot of visual effects. How were they accomplished? What kind of planning did you have to do ahead of time to prepare for the effects?

 

D.S.: As far as the visual effects go, we have a green screen of sorts and decent lighting. To anyone who's going to do a lot of green screen... Work on the 'cheap' lighting is the key! There is one major effects sequence in the film called, "The Demon Fight," almost entirely animated to look like a cross between "Tron" and "Fantasia" on acid. I story-boarded that entire sequence by hand beforehand. We shot the footage of the lead character on the green screen first, based on the story boards. Then my partner Artemicion Zirconia, and a CGI savvy friend of ours, Jesse Hale, worked on creating the computer generated landscape and "The Demon" itself. Also, to be of note, all of the effects... visual our other wise... were designed to look "worse" than they could be, to keep in line with the "retro" feel of the film.

 

 

BI: Let's Talk about the process of collaborating with the other filmmakers on your project. Did you pool resources, borrow any equipment, or work out any special deals with vendors?

 

D.S.: Psychotropica definitely wouldn't exist without the help of my fellow artists, family, and friends. Aside from myself... Artemicion Zirconia (my partner, producer, co-star and co-special effects artist), Aeryn Süin (score/song composer, co-producer, and co-star), Jesse Hale (creator of "The Demon"), and everyone else involved with the film uses a "European" Pseudonym (keeping with the "Euro Trash" nature of the movie). The cast is composed of various friends, and some family members, who just really wanted to make the movie happen for us all. They were all put through hell making this movie, through lots of bad weather, multiple takes, and long shoots.

 

Artemicion and Jesse were also put through the ringer in the effects department, being required to devote all of their free time to the needed computer effects. They used their own equipment and software to make that happen.

 

And, next to me, Aeryn Süin probably had the most to do overall with pulling it all together. Aeryn did songs for the film with his band RIP/TORN and composed the original score as well. The music is the voice of the film really. The movie doesn't have a lot of dialog. It is told primarily through visual imagery and Aeryn's music.

 

Otherwise, I did just about everything else. I have many pseudonyms and hats in the end title credits. Everyone associated with the film held a camera, shot a scene, worked lighting, or helped with conventional effects at some point during the production. It was very much a team effort.

 

 

BI: You must have faced some challenges that arose with such an ambitious production. What were they, and how did your team tackle them?

 

D.S.: The biggest challenge with making Psychotropica was getting everyone we needed for individual scenes together at the same time for an extended period of time. We had to shoot around everyone's work schedules, etc. And, of course, no one was being paid. I gave a little gas money here and there as I could... Bought and made a few meals as needed. I guess really the biggest hinderance was the absolute lack of money, but we all made it work.

 

BI:  It can be difficult getting an independent project listed on IMDB, especially for low budget independents if there are no name talents attached. We've heard a number of filmmakers try to get their completed projects listed, only to have a back-and-forth debate with IMDB with little success. Yet, you have managed to overcome this obstacle. What's your secret? Did IMDB give you hassle?

 

D.S.: I did have a lot of hassle with that. I submitted information to the IMDB for Psychotropica very early in the production. They rejected the project after a week, saying it needed to be announced in an official Trade paper and or have it's own website, or something to that effect. In any case, I submitted information to several trade papers, eventually Variety (twice) and created a somewhat overly detailed page for the film on my website. After the project was announced in Variety, and I resubmitted information to the IMDB 3 more times, I got the project entered. It took about 6 months for it to happen all in all. AND I still can’t get a trailer to submit. It is a very daunting task, but not impossible, if you're patient.

 

 

 

 

 

BI: So you made it! Now, what are you goals for this project?

 

D.S:. Honestly my overall goal would be to get the film released on DVD and to make a little money to do something bigger, better, and more... linear (hehe).

 

BI: What type of audience is Psychotropica best suited, and, did you have a target audience in mind when making the film?

 

 D.S.: From moment one Psychotropica was to be aimed at lovers of cult films, Lucio Fulci, trippy weird oddball movies, and just anyone looking for something totally different. Psychotropica is certainly an acquired taste, but I do think, given the chance, it will find the people it was made for.

 

BI: So how's life after "Psychotropica"? What other projects do you have in the works?

 

D.S.: I'm working on a script at the moment called "Eyes in the Dark." It's a psychological thriller with a bit of a supernatural angle to it. A lot of the people who worked on Psychotropica will be involved with the production, I'm sure. I already have some of the cast assembled. But we're very early into the production of it. I'd like to be able to raise about $25,000 to put into it, but you never know how that will go. I definitely want us to "do it on our own" outside of the system entirely, though. I'd love to be able to shoot it in HD and I'd definitely like to find someone in our area to be a Director of Photography. So if there's anyone in the Raleigh area who has a lot of free time and knows how to handle a camera well, let me know!

 

BI: We certainly will!

 

 

Cast & Crew Bios:

 

Damien Sage    view profile    IMDB profile

 

 

Damien Sage was born March 9th, 1985 in Raleigh North Carolina. Damien was an outgoing child who excelled in school, in fact he was quite the "nerd". Damien has always been a natural entertainer, doing impersonations and dramatic performances from a very young age. Damien began collecting and studying film at age 5 and started training himself as a filmmaker at age 11, when he got his first camera. Since that time Damien has become something of a "no budget" virtuoso in front of and behind the lens. He has a rabid online fanbase devoted to his short works. And has received acclaim from industry professionals such as Directors Mike Hodges and Sean S. Cunningham for his short thriller "D.O.D. (Dead on Delivery.)" Damien's latest film "Psychotropica" is currently making it's rounds through the independent community, amassing acclaim and fans along the way. Damien continues to push towards the future everyday, looking to become the front runner of fine independent cinema.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Aeryn Süin

 

 

In 2003 the world witnessed the birth of RIP\TORN.  At the age of 14,  forged a musical endeavor around the concept of destroying pop songs with harsh electronics, biting metal guitars, avant guarde song elements, and a touch of classical music.  Using the studio itself as an instrument, RIP\TORN recorded the first two albums: The End Of You And Me, and the darkly epic double album The Last Time For Everything.

 

 

 

In 2005, after tireless months of ingenuity and hard labor, The Last Time For Everything was released to the public, receiving industry acclaim and even being used in short films and movies. Soon thereafter, a live band was formed and performances of a caliber only demonstrated by national, or international, acts resulted in many sleepless nights for many fans still on an adrenaline high.

 

 

In early 2009 film producer Damien Sage contacted RIP\TORN to write the score to his film PSYCHOTROPICA.  The film has received much critical acclaim, with many references to the score being one of the main highlights.

 

 

Currently, RIP\TORN is in their Raleigh, NC-based studio re-inventing the wheel - shaping it into a harder, faster, and more dangerous machine: The Juggernaut. 

 

 

 

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Check it out!

 

 

 

Cast/Crew List   Production Companies ... Static Omega Films and AMP/Diamond Dust Director ... Damien Sage Producers ...  Artemicion Zirconia and Damien Sage Associate Producer ... Aeryn Süin Writer ... Sergio Mauroforte   Damien Sage as ...  The Patient Braden West as  ... The Brother Tiffany Titmouse as  ... The Sister Kurtwood Jones as  ... The Patient (Age 12) Bruce Delrich as  ... The Brother (Age 10) Iza Rose as ...  The Sister (Age 14) Aeryn Süin as ...  The Specialist Mychael Valentine as ... The Assassin Artemicion Zirconia as ...  The Lover Bob Frezza as ...  The Son  Maximillian Magick as ...  The Doctor     Cinematographer ... Dario Rombaldi Editor ... Lucio Nero Production/Costume Design ... Ethan Ego Special Effects ... Artemicion Zirconia and Damien Sage "The Demon" Creator ... Jesse Hale Original Songs and Score ... Aeryn Süin: RIP/TORN

 

 

Psychotropica Official Page     Psychotropica IMDB Page